Polish Lowland Sheepdog - pons - pon the dog
Stash is CH. Bogdanka King Stanislas Posy'Pirc, CGC, TDI,
HD (CH. Czort
Nerita x CH. Nowinka Kosy Dziechcinek). Tom and Diane Pirc of Hartford,
Wisconsin, USA are privileged to be his owners.
Stash, "Therapy Dog International - Paws" visiting a first grade class at St. Gabriel School, Wisconsin
Hi Everyone! Stash here. I'm the one in the middle. I guess I can now say I am truly a real therapy dog. I've passed my tests, got insurance, my daddy has a special badge to wear and I have a bright red bandana that says "Therapy Dog International-Paws Awhile for Love". I feel so proud when mom ties the bandana around my neck. But the really most important part is that I have a first grade class of thirteen children to visit with each Friday morning at 9:30 at St. Gabriel Grade School in Hubertus, Wisconsin USA. My first visit was November 4th and Dr. Judy Mortell the principal introduced me to all the classes as a "very special dog". I felt so important and my mom and daddy were smiling from ear to ear. Right now my daddy and I just visit my new friends in first grade, but soon we will also be spending time with the 7th graders-the bigger kids. Wow! I hope I fit in okay. The second visit with my first graders daddy taught the kids how to correctly pet a dog. I sat so still paying close attention to each little boy and girl as they came up to me one by one with a closed fist then slowly turning their fist over and opening it up to scratch my chin. That sure felt good. One little boy told daddy he was a little afraid to pet me and daddy said that was okay maybe next time. I'm thinking maybe the little boy never was close to a dog before. I didn't feel bad just sorry for the little boy. Next visit daddy talked about washing hands and that it was a good idea to wash hands before eating and after petting animals. Daddy also explained that before I get a bath (YUK!) I get brushed first and then my coat does not have so many tangles after I'm dried. Some of the little girls have very long hair even longer than me and they are going to tell their moms about the comb out before the hair wash. I guess they don't like the snarls at comb out time either. My last visit so far daddy asked the teacher to hold me outside the classroom while he hid some dog treats around the room. I wanted to show the boys and girls how I play "Go Find". It's lots of fun finding all the yummies. The lesson my daddy explained was that dogs have really great noses and can smell lots better than humans. Sometimes if a child gets very lost their mom and dad lets a very special dog smell the little boy or girl's clothes and it is very possible the dog will be able to find the lost child just by sniffing around for them. Got to go now and play outside with my little sister, Paczki but I'll write again with more of my adventures being a therapy dog. Love, Stash Stash is CH. Bogdanka King Stanislas Posy'Pirc, CGC, TDI, HD (CH. Czort Nerita x CH. Nowinka Kosy Dziechcinek). Tom and Diane Pirc of Hartford, Wisconsin, USA are privileged to be his owners. At a very tender age Stash demonstrated an extraordinary degree of empathy towards others and the ability to perceive neediness. Stash also owns the notable Pon traits of exceptional intelligence and memory, steadfastness and a generous sprinkling of gentleness. He is (as many Pons could be with proper nurturing) a perfect therapy dog. The November issue of Pon Digest ** offers a comprehensive list of organizations whose focus is therapy dogs. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ** |